Conference Tournaments Thread

[HeRKeYHoPeFuL]

Wanted to give a forum to discuss significant results in the various smaller conference tournaments that have already started.

A-Sun
North Florida lost to Lipscomb (and Andrew Flemming), so Lipscomb will play Liberty on Saturday for the Atlantic Sun's auto bid. Lipscomb likely wouldn't be an at-large team, but in case the committee is searching for a surprise team to give an at-large bid, bubble teams will be rooting hard for Liberty to lock up the bid.

MVC
Drake plays Northern Iowa. The Panthers probably would make the tournament even without winning the auto-bid (although they've taken some losses down the stretch). Bubble teams are hoping the seeds hold and the MVC locks in as a 1-bid league.

MWC
San Diego St. hasn't looked as good lately (trailing at half several times). They're the only lock from the MWC (Utah St. is right on the edge). San Diego St. plays Boise St., and will be getting everyone's best shot as the other teams fight to keep their seasons alive.

On the other side of the bracket, Utah St. is going to play the MWC Cindarella, #11 seeded Wyoming. This would be a damaging loss for a team right on the cut-line, and a win may not do enough to get them into the tournament as they could get passed by other teams.

What else are people watching today, any potential bubble implications from the other smaller conferences that I'm missing with today's games?

 

[StormHawk42]

Let’s go Dogs!

On another note, it makes so much sense that the WCC switched its conference tourney format. I can’t post a pic but I like that their top two seeds are triple byes to the semis. More smaller conferences should do that if they want the best chance of their best teams getting in.

The tourneys make money for the conferences so they can’t do away with them but they really should make overwhelmingly advantageous for their top seeds.

 

[hawkfan0319]

Let’s go Dogs!

On another note, it makes so much sense that the WCC switched its conference tourney format. I can’t post a pic but I like that their top two seeds are triple byes to the semis. More smaller conferences should do that if they want the best chance of their best teams getting in.

The tourneys make money for the conferences so they can’t do away with them but they really should make overwhelmingly advantageous for their top seeds.

That's crazy

 

[Ronman]

What else are people watching today?

I'm going to watch Ozark on Netflix. I don't want to OD on basketball before the wall to wall NCAA Tournament even gets here.

Fleming is still playing? That seems like eons ago.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Welp....figures when you play a team so quickly back to back there'd be struggles.

Drake up 29-16 on UNI in the 1st half.

 

[IowaAJ34]

Drake is on fire

 

[StormHawk42]

Let’s go Dawgs!!!!

 

[StormHawk42]

I’ll cheer for UNI if they advance but I hate their style of b-ball. Wisconsin lite. And kinda cheap.

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[markfromj]

If UNI loses this (or even later in the tournament), do they have a prayer of an at-large bid? I know many say the MVC is now a one-bid league, but, is there a chance for UNI in this case?

 

[StormHawk42]

If UNI loses this (or even later in the tournament), do they have a prayer of an at-large bid? I know many say the MVC is now a one-bid league, but, is there a chance for UNI in this case?

They’re not gonna lose most likely but if they did, they’d probably be right on the cut line or first four.

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

If UNI loses this (or even later in the tournament), do they have a prayer of an at-large bid? I know many say the MVC is now a one-bid league, but, is there a chance for UNI in this case?

it would be their 3rd Q3 loss. 1 Q1 and 4 Q2 wins....12/12 play in game would be their best hope.

 

[Franisdaman]

UNI's (23-5) Current Resume:

NET Ranking: 36

Best win: at Colorado

Sorting of their Wins & Losses:
01-01: Quad 1
03-02: Quad 2
10-02: Quad 3
09-00: Quad 4

 

[IowaAJ34]

Penn with big baskets for Drake lead back to 8

 

[IowaAJ34]

UNI better wake up there officially in trouble

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[IowaAJ34]

Panic time

 

[IowaAJ34]

UNI without a FG for over 9 minutes

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

Game’s over

 

[IowaAJ34]

UNI will probably be one of the last 4 out which is unfortunate because they’ve had a great season

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

What a darn shame......

 

[Franisdaman]

What a darn shame......

 

[IowaAJ34]

First time ever a one seed has lost to an 8. Wow

 

[StormHawk42]

Us Bulldog fans be like

 

[Franisdaman]

Darren Devries
* 2019 Valley Coach of the Year
* Consecutive 20 win seasons for Drake for 1st time since 1971

 

[markfromj]

It is so much better in DSM in March when Drake is successful.

 

[Chishawk1425]

LOL, pound sand UNI. Drake can win the whole thing. Hope they don't run out of gas. Congrats Dogs!

 

[Chishawk1425]

UNI will probably be one of the last 4 out which is unfortunate because they’ve had a great season

They had to win today, they are out unless some things we didn't expect happen in other conference tourneys, I'd wager they are in the NIT.

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

At least we can put the AJ Green talk on ice for about 7-8 months

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[IowaHawkIT]

At least we can put the AJ Green talk on ice for about 7-8 months

Why, because he's really good? And because he's an Iowa kid?

 

[hknation]

FWIW.....uni loses by 21, 77 to 56. IMHO, that bad of loss (8 seed over a 1 seed) almost ensures a nit for uni.

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

Why, because he's really good? And because he's an Iowa kid?

He’s a nice player

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Well, I think we can kiss those Iowa/UNI 1st Round predictions goodbye, ehh Lunardi?................

 

[CoachH]

Well, I think we can kiss those Iowa/UNI 1st Round predictions goodbye, ehh Lunardi?................

Drake is pretty solid. Got 3 pretty good sophomores; one of them is a 7 footer with skill. If he gets stronger, he could really be a force in the Valley next year. I really like DeVries as a coach, of course. We'll see how long he stays at Drake.

 

[Underscore2]

So.

Just for old times sake, maybe some fire Fran fire Barta, hire DeVries threads?

 

[BaldHawk4Life]

Drake is pretty solid. Got 3 pretty good sophomores; one of them is a 7 footer with skill. If he gets stronger, he could really be a force in the Valley next year. I really like DeVries as a coach, of course. We'll see how long he stays at Drake.

He isn't going anywhere unless Iowa or ISU opens up and he is offered the position. He was at Creighton as an assistant for 18 years and applied for the Drake job I think he said 3 times on the radio. He could have had opportunities leaving Creighton and didn't take them... he is an Iowan through and through. This was a great fit and hire for Drake... should have been the guy when they hired Medved

 

[33hawkfan]

Drake is pretty solid. Got 3 pretty good sophomores; one of them is a 7 footer with skill. If he gets stronger, he could really be a force in the Valley next year. I really like DeVries as a coach, of course. We'll see how long he stays at Drake.

Robbins took a huge leap this year, and you're right if he keeps improving he's going to be very tough to deal with in that league. The Valley will be on the upswing next year, Drake returns four starters, Loyola brings back all five and UNI returns three all-conference type players in Phyfe, Green and Berhow. I think they will get multiple teams in the tournament next year.

 

[CoachH]

Robbins took a huge leap this year, and you're right if he keeps improving he's going to be very tough to deal with in that league. The Valley will be on the upswing next year, Drake returns four starters, Loyola brings back all five and UNI returns three all-conference type players in Phyfe, Green and Berhow. I think they will get multiple teams in the tournament next year.

I haven't paid much attention to them this year before last night, but I was very impressed with Robbins. A seven footer with skill and shooting touch in the Valley? And he's from Davenport? He's only a sophomore. He must be a late blooming kid.

I really like their point guard Penn; all around solid player and also a sophomore. Looks like decent role players on the team too. Could be a very tough Bulldog team next year.

Hope they can keep going this year too!

 

[StormHawk42]

I haven't paid much attention to them this year before last night, but I was very impressed with Robbins. A seven footer with skill and shooting touch in the Valley? And he's from Davenport? He's only a sophomore. He must be a late blooming kid.

I really like their point guard Penn; all around solid player and also a sophomore. Looks like decent role players on the team too. Could be a very tough Bulldog team next year.

Hope they can keep going this year too!

Robbins didn’t have any offers out of HS so he went the prep school route. He’s developed very nicely.

Drake also has a few guys coming off RS next year that should boost their athleticism.

UNI should be favorites again next year. They’ll be very good.